< PreviousFood 30 Spring-Summer 2020 Time Out UAE Kids WE LOVE OUR family games nights... Arguments and cheating children aside. So when we hear that this new board game burger joint has opened in the brand-new Wasl 51 complex in Jumeirah we are there in the roll of a dice. There are a handful of tables outside in a pretty square complete with mini water fountain, but if you’re taking your board gaming as seriously as we are, inside is a better option – we don’t want our hard-earned bank notes being blown away. Our waiter suggests a couple of games we should play (which helps prevent squabbles between the mini gamers) as she hands us a menu, which is all about the burgers, with an all-day breakfast and a couple of salads thrown in for good measure. There is no kid’s menu, but the starters, such as macaroni cheese and chicken wings (ask for the very spicy sauce on the side) work perfectly for little appetites. The kids get stuck into a competitive game of Pictionary – taken from a stack of boxed games that also includes Monopoly, Scrabble and Connect Four to name a few – we slurp on our iced lattes as we wait for the burgers to appear. And when they do we are all impressed. Far from being a gimmicky eatery with mediocre food, the burgers are juicy and, perfectly-cooked, the buns are lightly toasted and squishy, while the tangy sauce is the perfect accompaniment to our fried chicken fillet burger. The crispy onions on the side are a welcome touch as are the well-seasoned chips. The are various side dishes that we did consider, the coleslaw sounds particularly appealing, but are glad we decided against it given the size of the portions. This is the ideal spot for some family bonding, just keep an eye on the children, rolling four “sixes” in a row is dubious. Charade O Open daily noon-10pm. Wasl 51, Jumeirah, Dubai, (050 137 0779). WHAT IS IT... A burger joint with board games WHY GO... The food is as good as the family-fun you will have CHILDREN’S CHOICE The ten-year-old Pictionary is my favourite family game so it was brilliant to be able to play it while we waited for our lunch. We also played Connect Four, Monopoly and Cluedo. I beat my sister three times in Connect Four and she got very annoyed, then daddy helped her and she suddenly started winning, which annoyed me. I beat her in Monopoly though so it wasn’t all bad. I love chicken wings and the ones here are delicious. I also like spicy food, but the sauce is mind-blowing so I’m pleased mummy asked for it on the side. Can’t wait to come back. The six-year-old There are so many games to choose from, and you can even buy the ones you like best to take home, but Mummy wouldn’t let me. I beat my brother at Connect Four because I am better than him at games. He wasn’t happy. The macaroni cheese is so yummy. The four-year-old I got to draw loads of pictures when we played the drawing game. I couldn’t read what was on the cards so I just made things up. I think I won. I ate a whole bowl of pasta and didn’t leave any because it was nice WHAT THE KIDS SAY While you may not be able to leave your home right now, we’ll continue to keep you in-the-know about the UAE’s family-friendly restaurants and things to do, so that when it’s safe for you to head back out, you and your brood are in no doubt about which places to make a beeline for. Time Out reviews anonymously and pays for its meals 30-31 TOKU_1304_EO REVIEW DUBAI_10153786_11221423.indd 3029/03/2020 10:50:33Food Time Out UAE Kids Spring-Summer 2020 31 WHAT IS IT... Dubai’s best breakfast spot for 2020 WHY GO... Specialty Batch Coffee and a brilliant start to the day AROUND FIVE MILLION tourists make their way to Italy’s Amalfi Coast each year, coaxed in by beautiful scenery, bright sunny skies – and the wonderful food. From fresh seafood to handmade pasta, regionally produced grape and renowned Amalfi lemons, there’s little wonder. But it’s not exactly a short drive from central Dubai – unlike Alici, on Bluewaters Dubai. And as the sister restaurant of dual Time Out Dubai Restaurant of the Year winner Il Borro Tuscan Bistro, expectations are high. Set over two floors, the space is bathed in neutral shades and heaps of natural light, with citrus trees, beachy blues and white- washed wood. Take a seat and stare out to sea – either from the terrace in winter or from massive floor-to-ceiling windows from the upstairs dining room. Polpo alla griglia is plump tentacle of perfectly grilled octopus that is delicious. The fritto misto is weaker, but still tasty, with fried calamari, red mazara prawns and courgettes all d elicately b attered. Seared scallops with roast cauliflower make for a fanastic flavour- texture combination, too, but the star of the show is the spaghetti alla ‘chitarra’ con ricci e ricciola. If you haven’t tried sea urchin – do it now. This indulgent pasta is a rich, salty seafaring dream – and one topped with raw, diced amberjack at that. Round off your meal with a tangy lemon cake for ultimate Amalfi coast vibes. But while dishes are strong and the setting is charming, Alici will have to work a little bit harder to step out from behind the shadow of its famous sibling.. Alici O Open daily noon-3.30pm, 7pm-midnight. Bluewaters Dubai (04 275 2577). WHAT IS IT... An Italian seafood eatery serving up top food and pretty views WHY GO... It’s a dazzling date-night destination for some time away from the kids BOOK A BABYSITTER HOW DO YOU like your eggs in the morning? If the answer isn’t ‘poached on top of activated charcoal çilbir’, you’ve clearly not checked out this cracking Jumeirah 1 haunt. Serving Dubai’s own Specialty Batch Coffee, this characterful café started life as a haven for that most reviving of liquids and has grown to become just as popular for its food. It’s a relatively dinky space, unless the weather’s cool enough to spread out in the garden, but staff work the room at speed regardless, ferrying Chemex concoctions and Spanish lattes out from the barista counter. A handful of breakfast dishes are only served until 1pm, but plenty are available all day, including the sensational summer porridge – a creamy, citrussy hotchpotch of cold quinoa, green apple, orange zest and toasted coconut. Tangy shakshuka is another top pick, served with warm sourdough. And you don’t need to hang around long to see plate after plate of pull-apart French toast delivered to tables of folk in-the-know. Come for coffee, for breakfast, for lunch, for afternoon tea. Or just to be reminded how your eggs ought to be. Stomping Grounds O Open Sat-Wed 7.30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7.30am-midnight. Unlicensed. Street 12D, Jumeirah 1 (04 344 4451). BREAKFAST WITH THE BROOD Best Breakfast 2020 Winner Best Seafood 2020 Winner 30-31 TOKU_1304_EO REVIEW DUBAI_10153786_11221423.indd 3129/03/2020 10:50:45Food 32 Spring-Summer 2020 Time Out UAE Kids PEOPLE DON’T JUST go to restaurants for the food anymore. No, the venue has to be knockout, the dishes have to be Instagrammable, the overall vibe has to be on point. Okay, that’s true of everyone, and not always for us (we love a hole in the wall for a shawarma and a karak as much as a meal at Zuma), but if you’re the kind of person that loves visting somewhere for the overall package, then Sanderson’s may just be the place for you. Across the board, this café, out the back of Al Seef Village Mall, is a crowd-pleaser. It has a California-style feel to it. The colour palette and the inspirational quotes, the chia puddings and superfood soothies, and, the general niceness about the place... It’s enough to make some people feel queasy. The staff all don bright printed shirts and are full of smiles. There’s an outdoor area just brimming with good vibes. It’s the perfect lazy breakfast spot, and that’s why we’re here this time around. Well, and for Insta likes. The menu has plenty of options, a lot to offer and has had an update earlier this year. There’s enough to suit most tastes – from pancakes and waffles to eggs Benedict and even a baba ghanoush pizza (though we’re not quite ready for pizza in the morning — unless it is left over from the night before. There are inspirational messages printed and presented alongside the coffees. “Do more of what makes you happy” it says. “A hipster spot offering good vibes only” WHAT IS IT... A super-cool café in Abu Dhabi’s Al Seef Resorts & Spa by Andalus WHY GO... Friday mornings here will keep the whole family happy Fine, we’ll tuck into some food. The avo and eggs on rye is as close to perfect as you can get. The yolks are runny, chunks of feta give few salty bursts of flavour and the hitherto untested addition of garden peas is a pleasant surprise. Brioche French toast is also impressive. We soak the huge slices of bread, topped with fresh berries and vanilla cream, in lashings of syrup. In need of a further boost, we order two more coffees (mainly to get a little message of hope). “Don’t ruin a good today by thinking about a bad yesterday. Let it go,” it says. Yesterday we had a banana at our desk, how did Sanderson’s know? This place is a real gem. The total package, indeed. FAMILY BREKKIE SORTED Sanderson’s O Daily 8am-10pm. Unlicensed. Behind Al Seef Village Mall, Khalifa Park area (02 222 1142). Time Out reviews anonymously and pays for its meals 32-33_TOKU_1304_EO REVIEW ABU DHABI_10153777_11221416.indd 3229/03/2020 10:52:05Food Time Out UAE Kids Spring-Summer 2020 33 Tamba O Open daily noon-1am. The Hub at The Mall, Al Markaziya, Abu Dhabi (02 672 8888). WHATEVER NIGHT OF the week it is you can try something different, and that’s one of the reasons we love it here. The indoor area, with huge copper bells hanging from the ceiling, is lovely. Then there’s the terrace, which might not have the greatest of views (unless you love being in the middle of the cityscape), but does have a good atmosphere. The food at Tamba has won plenty of Time Out awards, and on this visit the aromas from the tandoor are almost enough to make us take a seat at the bar itself and watch the expert mixologists at work. As always, the service is top notch here. Our server is friendly, efficient and knowledgeable and suggets a few mixed drinks based on our tastes. The personal touch is one of the things they do really well here. All of the drinks we’re served are wonderfully crafted and the glasses never go dry thanks to the hands-on (but not overly pushy) staff who clearly enjoy seeing customers happy. We also order some quinoa and corn bhajis which are a perfect compliment to our fruity concoctions, with their crisp texture and rich, spicy fragrance. We love it here and we’re always impressed at how consistent it is. We hope Tamba continues doing what it does, serving top drinks and making superb food. WHAT IS IT... A classy, trendy bar at one of Abu Dhabi’s very best restaurants WHY GO... It’s the perfect place to re-connect with your other half sans kids DATE NIGHT SUPPER WITH THE GANG Wokyo Little diners can choose from the noodle restaurant’s dedicated kid’s menu that includes both rice and noodle options. O www.wokyo.com (800 96595). McDonalds This list wouldn’t be complete without a Mackers Happy Meal. Kids love the toy as much as their chicken nuggets or burger. O www.mcdelivery.ae. THREE OF THE BEST Takeaways for kids Pinza A firm family favourite thanks to its healthy options, including wholemeal bases, and huge variety. They taste great, too. O www.pinza.com (800 74692). WHAT IS IT... A cool poolside venue WHY GO... The chilled atmosphere and bar bites WE WERE IMPRESSED on our last visit to Waves Bar a few weeks ago, so we decided to come back and get stuck into a meal this time. It’s not often that we’d make a beeline for a poolside bar and restaurant for a bite to eat (not without our swimsuit anyway), but in this case we’re more than willing to make an exception. The venue is casual, the décor is cool and inviting, plus we don’t need much of an excuse to grab a knife and fork and fill our stomachs with a few dishes. We’re not sure what it is about crispy fried food or gooey cheese that turns our head but we’re suckers for both. This time we can’t resist trying the mac ’n’ cheese balls. We’re glad we did, they’re piping hot (careful, now) and wonderfully crunchy on the outside. Inside the molten cheese oozes out and the pasta gives a good amount of bite. We also order a steak (yes, we know its unusual for a pool bar), cooked medium rare. The meat is clearly a nice cut (the hotel has a stekhouse after all), but it’s overcooked. It tastes good, so we resist the urge to send it back. We don’t like to see food wasted and this is a good steak, it’s just not cooked the way we wanted it. It doesn’t spoil the overall experience, so we’ll be back. Next time we’ll probably stick to the deep-fried bar snacks, though. Waves Bar O Daily 8am-1am. Licensed. Novotel Al Bustan, Rabdan Street (02 501 6088). 32-33_TOKU_1304_EO REVIEW ABU DHABI_10153777_11221416.indd 3329/03/2020 10:52:15Food 34 Spring-Summer 2020 Time Out UAE Kids IF YOU’RE LOOKING to keep your kids entertained by a clown, face painter or bouncy castle while you catch up with some adult conversation, this isn’t the brunch for you. But if you are looking to spend some quality family time together over a lazy Friday afternoon then, bingo. Literally translating to “The Lighthouse”, this little, lighthouse- shaped Italian restaurant found on the North East-facing side of the island’s trunk lives true to its name. It’s uniqueness comes in two forms: firstly it’s one of the few licensed, free-standing restaurants you’ll find in the emirate, and secondly, it’s one of the few places that genuinely makes us feel like we’re sat, whiling away the hours on the coast of the Med. And that’s where the name of Il Faro’s Friday brunch, Bella Vista, rings especially true – the views out to sea are only interrupted by private islands, boats, and the Burj Al Arab. And the view of the menu gets us equally ready for a whopping- great, hearty Mediterranean lunch – packed full of mozzarella, tomatoes, cured meats, seafood and most importantly, carbs. It’s effectively a set menu, there’s no buffet in sight – just a feast of freshly prepared dishes. The afternoon starts with caprese salad, fresh burrata, and huge chunks of parmesan cheese accompanying a charcuterie Bella Vista brunch at Il Faro O Fri 12.30pm-3.30pm. Dhs170 (soft drinks), Dhs295 (house beverages), Dhs345 (bubbly), Dhs89 (kids six-12), Free (kids under six). Azure Residences, Palm Jumeirah (04 568 3137). board of cured meats. A stand- out dish from the starters, the arancini is crunchy, yet oozing with molten cheese when you carve into one, which we’d personally much rather eat like an apple than with a knife and fork, but, hey, manners cost nothing, right? An initial disappointment is the relatively limited apperance of main courses on the menu. On paper you’ll see one pizza, one pasta dish, one seafood and one meat dish. It looks a bit threadbare, but there is the option to specify which pizza you’d like to order – and there was one other thing we overlooked. The four dishes you see on the menu are brought out on demand, so you can, for all intents and purposes, have as much as you want. And the pizzas are absolutely exquisite. Whether you’re chowing down on the WHAT IS IT... A real Italian feast in stunning surroundings WHY GO... Magnificent pizza, gorgeous views, and fantastic value “Mini brunchers can order from a dedicated kid’s menu” THE FAMILY-TIME BRUNCH quattro formaggi with its tangy gorgonzola, the diavola with its spicy beef salami, or the humble margherita – the pizzas here are pretty special, and even left our real-life Italian friend conceding the food is almost as good as their nona’s cooking. The menu, like most Italian dishes, does more with less. If the mini brunchers don’t fancy the brunch, they can order food from a dedicated menu kid’s menu, which includes a main course, a drink and an ice cream for Dhs48. Mains on offer include spaghetti bolognese, margerita pizza and gnocchi with pesto. It’s with much regret that 4pm comes around and we’re out of pizza. We take no shame in saying that we then stayed here until dinner time, purely so we could justify ordering more. None whatsoever, because all in all, this is a stunning feast. Time Out reviews anonymously and pays for its meals 34-35 TOKU_1304_EO BRUNCH REVIEW_10153788_11221429.indd 3429/03/2020 10:53:12Food Time Out UAE Kids Spring-Summer 2020 35 THE CAFÉ AT Abu Dhabi’s dreamy Park Hyatt is our Friday destination of choice. Here, a substantial, yet not over-whelming, brunch greets us as we walk into the all-day dining restaurant. The pretty terrace surrounded by green lawns with the hotel pool to one side is small, cosy and relaxed so we grab a seat at one of the bistro tables. Venturing back inside, we discover several live cooking stations serving up international favourites including a choice of succulent-looking roasts at a carving station, complete with all the trimmings (the roast duck is a firm favourite and warrants a second helping). Seafood lovers will be thrilled with the shellfish selection with oysters, lobster claws and crab all heaped high in glass bowls of ice, while those following a plant- based diet can load their plate from a dedicated vegan section – though we are perplexed to see the table flanked by a whole fish, which sitting on the adjacent table alongside other meaty bites. The pizza is cooked to order and the chef is happy to provide us with a whole one to take back to the table to save us coming back time and again for one slice at a time, it really is that good. Sushi, slow-cooked ribs, kung pao chicken and Japanese noodle soup (freshly-made with your choice of ingredients), plus lamb chops and pan-seared foie gras are all on offer, but it’s the Indian section that really grabs our attention: popadoms, mango chutney and buttery chicken curry. In Camp Hyatt we discover we needn’t have worried bout not having seen the kids for hours. A buffet spread wraps around one end of the play zone where kids are happily doing arts and crafts, playing board games, watching television or splashing in the kids pool – all under the watchful eye of staff who say our kids have gone WHAT IS IT... A chilled out buffet brunch with excellent service WHY GO... The kids will thank you, when you eventually see them The Café at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi O Dhs270 (soft drinks), Dhs350 (house beverages), Dhs550 (sparkling), Dhs200 (kids six-12), free (kids under six). Fri 1pm-4pm. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 407 1234). THE KID’S CLUB BRUNCH back for thirds of the hotdogs, as well as mac ’n’ cheese. With them sorted, we head back inside for cheese, where a cheeseboard is laden with some seriously creamy, gooey fromage. Sweet treats are elegantly displayed. The vegan molten chocolate cake looks too appetising to resist, so putting any dairy-dodging reservations aside we give it a go – and are thankful we have. The choice isn’t as extensive as at some other big buffets out there, but what is available is brilliant, and the kids love it. What the kids say The eight-year-old There are some fun board games to play, plus the arts and crafts selection is fun. I had a hotdog and some chips and the food is yum. The six-year-old The kids club is so cool. There is food in there for us, and also a splash park, The ladies in there looking after us are really nice. We didn’t see mummy much we were having so much fun. The four-year-old I love this place a lot. We were in the kids club the whole time and didn’t really see mummy. We also went swimming in our clothes because mummy didn’t bring our swimming costumes. Super fun. 34-35 TOKU_1304_EO BRUNCH REVIEW_10153788_11221429.indd 3529/03/2020 10:53:2336 Spring-Summer 2020 Time Out UAE Kids CLARE LAVIN – mum to six-year-old Oscar and 18-month old Darcy – has always been passionate about cooking. The Dubai-based mother- of-two made it to the quarter finals of Junior Masterchef and then later appeared on the cookery show, Masterchef Goes Large. Having passed on her love of whipping up Ingredients • 100g self-raising flour • 100g unsalted butter • 50g caster sugar • 2 eggs • Dash of vanilla essence • 2 tablespoons cream cheese • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder • 2 tablespoons icing sugar • 1 pack mini eggs Method STEP 1: To make the vanilla sponge, cream together the sugar and butter. Stir in the eggs, flour and vanilla essence. STEP 2: Put into mini cupcake cases on a mini cupcake tray and bake on 180 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. Mini birds nest cupcakes O Makes 12 small cupcakes. Prep time: 15 mins. Cook time: 15 mins STEP 3: When the cupcakes are cooked, leave to cool completely. Make the icing by creaming together the cream cheese, cocoa powder and icing sugar. STEP 4: To decorate the cupcakes, cover each one in the icing, and decorate with the mini eggs. Kids will love helping you to make this selection of sweet and savoury snacks, perfect for spring time. Cooking with Clare fun, innovative meals to Oscar, she now encourages him to help her in the kitchen teaching him new skills and encouraging his creative flair. Her specialities are cooking quick and easy dishes that the whole family can enjoy. For more family- friendly recipes, follow Clare on Instagram @claresfamilykitchen. TIP: Arrange the cupcakes in an egg box for a cute finish. 36 - 39_TOKU_1304_COOKING WITH CLARE_11007588_11221419.indd 3625/03/2020 14:03:12Food Time Out UAE Kids Spring-Summer 2020 37 Ingredients • 100g milk chocolate • 100g dark chocolate • 1 tbls golden syrup • 100g unsalted butter • 100g digestive biscuits • Handful mini marshmallows • 1 pack mini Cadburys creme eggs Method STEP 1: Melt the chocolate, golden syrup and butter over a bain mairie, until smooth and silky. STEP 2: Crush the biscuits into small pieces and add to the chocolate mix, together with the marshmallows. Stir well. STEP 3: Transfer chocolate mix into a pirex dish or deep baking tray. Step 4: Dot the top of the rocky road with the mini crème eggs (removed from the wrappers). Put in the fridge for an hour until set, then cut up and serve! Creme egg rocky road O Makes 10 rocky road. Prep time: 20 mins. Cool time: 1 hour TIP: These go perfectly with a glass of milk for kiddos and with a cup of tea for parents, if your little ones will share them that is! 36 - 39_TOKU_1304_COOKING WITH CLARE_11007588_11221419.indd 3725/03/2020 14:03:24Food 38 Spring-Summer 2020 Time Out UAE Kids Ingredients • 8 free range eggs • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise • 4 black olives • 1 carrot Method STEP 1: Cook the eggs until hard boiled (10 minutes), then cool down in cold water and peel. Put in the fridge to completely cool. STEP 2: Cut the top off the eggs and scoop out the yolk into a bowl without breaking the white of the egg. Add the mayonnaise and mash into a smooth paste. STEP 3: To decorate, fill the eggs with the yolk mix, making a small chick head at the top. Cut small olive circles for eyes and a small beak out of carrot. Then admire your handywork! Spring chick mimosa eggs O Makes 8 mimosa eggs. Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 10 mins TIP: Cute food art that can be used year round to get kids to eat eggs. 36 - 39_TOKU_1304_COOKING WITH CLARE_11007588_11221419.indd 3825/03/2020 14:03:38Food Time Out UAE Kids Spring-Summer 2020 39 Bunny jelly in grass O Makes one large jelly. Prep time: 10 mins. Cool time: overnight Ingredients • 1 packet raspberry or strawberry jelly • 1 packet of lime jelly • 1 rabbit shaped jelly mould Method STEP 1: Make the jelly to the packet instructions. Fill the jelly mould with the raspberry flavor and put the lime jelly in a small pirex bowl. STEP 2: Chill the jelly overnight in the fridge until set. STEP 3: To serve, remove the rabbit jelly from the mould, dunking in hot water if necessary so the jelly comes out. Careful not to over heat! Mash the lime jelly with a fork to resemble grass and put around the rabbit. TIP: You can scatter pretty flowers made out of edible paper around the jelly rabbit. 36 - 39_TOKU_1304_COOKING WITH CLARE_11007588_11221419.indd 3925/03/2020 14:03:49Next >